Gifts for a New Mom

What Do You Prefer: Newborn Gift or Fresh Dinner?

Pop the cork — the baby has arrived! Celebrating the newborn life often begins with balloons, bubbly, blooms and a written sentiment or two. When the visitors start arriving at the new family's doorstep, they often come bearing gifts of layette, blankets or tiny toppers. Others show up with trays full of lasagna and other prepared meals so that the recovering mama can focus on her newest addition instead of the messy kitchen. Obviously both are appreciated and icing on the cake, but which type of gift do you think most mums prefer?

In our Jewish community, we have a committee that makes meals for families that have just given birth. It is so helpful since most new parents are just so tired and don't have time to cook. The challenge is making sure the food is tasty.

I would have said the meals, but when I had my daughter the majority of the meals people brought were just really unappetizing to me as a new mom. Or I received meals that had ingredients known to make nursing newborns gassy - and with my kid, I didn't need any more of that. So I ended up with a fridge full of food we didn't like and then still had to make dinner.
I would never tell people what to make me, unless they asked ahead of time.

I never had a shower with any of my kids, so the random gifts friends brought were a real help and truly appreciated. I never got food until this last baby (he's 2 months now), and I did like it. That said, my husband is a great chef, and my 9 year old's not bad either. So I never had the overwhelming trouble with making meals post-baby. And since cooking is a therapy for me, it's one thing I would have missed had too many people brought meals.

I like any gifts really, just because you have things to pass down doesnt mean you arent going to ever want cute new outfits for the next, but i will have to admit food is nice. My sister told me to ask her any time i needed her to make me food, and i took her up on it more then a few times. It really was a lifesaver, I was able to do some of the 20 million other things you don't have much time or energy for while sleep deprived.

5 years

I find it really depends on what # of baby you're having. With the 1st, it's a 50/50 split. The food and gifts are both nice. The 2nd depends on if it's the same sex as your first. If it is, you've probably got lots to pass down to the baby, so the foods really nice. With the 3rd again, if it's the same as either of the first 2, the foods really nice.

I was overwhelmed (in a good way) with the number of people who brought us dinner after my son was born and spent his first four days of life in NICU. It touched me deeply and helped out so much during such a chaotic time. I also love making dinner for people who have had children or their own hospital stay/surgery etc.